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California: More on Reports of Ballot Shortages and Confused Indies

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SAN JOSE, CA — I just got off the phone with California Democratic Party spokesman Bob Mulholland, who confirmed that the party has experienced ballot shortages in some places. “The good news is people want to vote on the Democratic ballot,” he said. “The bad news is some of these places are running out of ballots.” Even so, the shortages have been isolated he said. Polls will stay open until people have the chance to vote, and they can cast ballots on blank sheets of paper if need be.

I also asked Mulholland about the reports of independent voters not being given Democratic ballots, which has been a major concern of Obama people here today. About 10 to 12 percent of Democratic ballots cast in California today are predicted to come from independents, who favor Obama by a significant margin. (The GOP does not allow indies to vote in its primary but the Democrats do). Mulholland said independents received emails and sample ballots informing them of their rights. “All of our poll workers have been instructed to give them a Democratic ballot if they ask,” he said. “Has that happened every time? No. But the independent voter has to have some responsiblity (to ask for one) too.”